Triple Stabbing in Fresno Leaves Woman Dead, Officer Injured

FRESNO – A suspect is behind bars after stabbing two women and a Fresno police officer early Monday morning in the Tower District.

Michael Crockell

The incident happened around 5 a.m. near Home and Maroa avenues just south of Fresno City College. Police received a frantic call for help from a woman who said she had been stabbed in her apartment. The woman said that her roommate had also been stabbed and was dying, according to Police Chief Jerry Dyer.

When officers arrived on the scene, they were confronted by an armed suspect, later identified as 25-year-old Michael Crockell.

“Some type of struggle ensued between the officer and the suspect,” Dyer said. “At that point, the suspect stabbed one of our officers in the back of the head.”

The officer was able to fight off the suspect and subdue him with an electronic stun device.

Dyer said it was “by the grace of God” that the officer, identified as 32-year-old Jonathan Linzey, survived the attack. Linzey suffered a several inch gash to his head and was treated at Community Regional Medical Center. He is expected to recover.

Unfortunately, one of the women Crockell attacked in the apartment was not so fortunate. Officers discovered the dead body of a 46-year-old woman who lived at the apartment lying close to the apartment doorway. She had at least 14 stab wounds, police said. They also found her injured roommate, 20-year-old Jennifer Gonzalez, who had been stabbed at least 15 times. Gonzalez was taken to Community Regional, where she is listed in stable condition.

Police don’t know what led to the attack by Crockell. Dyer said that Crockell and Gonzalez had dinner together at Crockell’s apartment on Sunday evening without any issues. Early Monday morning, according to police, Gonzalez said she was in bed at the women’s apartment when she heard her roommate yelling, “Get him off me! Help me, help me!” When Gonzalez ran to help her roommate, she was attacked by Crockell.

Crockell has a long criminal history and was on “post-release” community supervision after being released from prison 6 months ago.

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